Committee Report - Leg Matters - 4-6-17 — File 203083

Legislative Matters Committee Page 1 of 3 Printed 4/11/2017 April 6, 2017 REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE MATTERS COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Mary Jo Rossetti Chair Present Mark Niedergang Vice Chair Present Katjana Ballantyne Ward Seven Alderman Present John M. Connolly Alderman At Large Present William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present Others present: Alderman Lance Davis, Michael Glavin - OSPCD, Tom Galligani - OSPCD, Brad Rawson - OSPCD, Vanessa Boukili - OSPCD, David Shapiro - Law, Jason Grossfield - Law, Michael Richards - Purchasing, Ron Bonney - DPW, Annie Connor - Legislative Liaison, Tim Snyder - Mayor’s Office, Rositha Durham - Clerk of Committees. The meeting took place in the Committee Room and was called to order at 7:15 PM by Alderman Rossetti and adjourned at 8:50 PM. Approval of the March 16, 2017 Minutes RESULT: ACCEPTED 202626: Proposing an Ordinance to safeguard vulnerable road users. Ms. Connor, Mr. Shapiro, Mr. Bonney, Mr. Richards and resident Alexander Epstein continued discussion on this matter. Ms. Connor distributed a 2 page document regarding implementation of the proposed ordinance. The committee discussed bids for work/projects, how the proposed ordinance might impact the city and how this request could work through the purchasing department, as well as fleet operations. Two phases of the program were discussed: 1) to use the safeguard request for all new bids and 2) to apply it to general supplies and services. Boston is currently the only city implementing this procedure and has not seen any decreases in contracts. Ms. Connor believes that any (financial cost) increase in Somerville would be minimal. Boston is charging a $100 fee to inspect trucks and it was suggested that this would be better suited with fleet operations in the DPW.

Legislative Matters Committee Page 2 of 3 Printed 4/11/2017 Mr. Bonney had concerns with the snow removal suppliers and suggested having an emergency clause in the proposed ordinance in case a supplier could not deliver and the city needed to switch to another supplier. Alderman Davis, cautions terms, i.e., that the clause not be over- used. Alderman Niedergang suggested getting started immediately and reviewing this item again in a year. He suggested passing the ordinance sometime this spring and being somewhat consistent with other communities in terms of the language. Chairman Rossetti requested that the Law Department prepare a draft amendment to the ordinance and highlight the changes. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 202023: That the Director of SPCD report to this Board on the Administration’s plans for the Somerville Municipal Job Creation and Retention Trust Fund and jobs linkage fee for new commercial development. Alderman Ballantyne gave a summary of the Task Force Committee meeting held on March 31, 2017 and said that she would have notes from that meeting tomorrow. The committee plans to resume discussion next month with the consultant to receive a mid-point Nexus update. Alderman Ballantyne spoke about Federal Realty (FRIT) wanting to commence permitting in the very near future and reiterated there should be some linkage fees involved. Mr. Glavin reported that he had conversations with FRIT regarding this matter, adding that FRIT has made contributions in the past of $100,000 to workforce development and will continue to make contributions. The original $100,000 was provided to the city on February 3, 2012 (from the IKEA property) and was used to issue a contract with SCC, Somerville's first job training program. FRIT will honor the $1.40 per square foot recommendation. Mr. Galligani reviewed with the commttee, a detailed finaancial report, to date. President White stressed the need for Somerville to have more commercial property. FRIT currently plans to build luxury residential units with a T-stop very close by. The city is trying to shift the tax burden from its residents. Mr. Shapiro suggested that a zoning ordinance would be the safest way, with zero risk, to accomplish the city’s goal. He shared a document from the state legislature regarding a motion establishing the Somerville Municipal Job Creation and Retention Trust Fund. Mr. Snyder will let FRIT know the opinions of the committee. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 202360: That the City Solicitor prepare a draft ordinance for jobs linkage fees. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 202201: That the City Solicitor draft a Home Rule Petition to provide relief from water and sewer charges and rates to property owners who occupy their homes, by providing an exemption similar to the residential property tax exemption.

Legislative Matters Committee Page 3 of 3 Printed 4/11/2017 Mr. Grossfield distributed a draft Home Rule Petition based upon comments from Alderman White and others. The committee asked for clarification of (b), i.e., what is the meaning of "regarding revenue neutral" in the draft. The petition has broad language to enable the city to enact locally. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 202122: That the Administration present its recommendations and a draft ordinance for the proposed Rental Registration Program (#199934) to the Committee on Legislative Matters at its meeting on October 20, 2016. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199969: That the City Solicitor draft an ordinance to prohibit the sale and use of synthetic cannabinoids and other dangerous chemical compounds. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 203007: That the City Solicitor review whether the Plastic Bag Ordinance could affect the distribution of Globe Direct advertising, and report back to this Board's Committee on Legislative Matters. Mr. Snyder reported that he called Globe Direct and this request has been completed. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 202457: Assistant City Solicitor responding to #201905 with a draft ordinance to extend protections for trees on city-owned property. Mr. Rawson, Ms. Boukili, Mr. Shapiro and Mr. Snyder distributed a (red lined version) draft ordinance that would ensure that healthy public shade trees are not taken down without first going through a stated process that would allows for public involvement. Alderman Connolly suggested adding language to the tree ordinance to define the extensive public process. Chairman Rossetti suggested changes to the 2nd paragraph of the draft ordinance and Alderman White asked that the language in the last paragraph be clarified. Chairman Rossetti asked that the changes be reflected in the next iteration of the draft. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE Handouts: • Memos (with 202626) • House 4303 (with 202023) • Home Rule Petition (with 202201) • Revisions (with 202457)